Phillies 6, Giants 1
Pitching is going to be the dominant theme of this NLCS between the Giants and Phillies. Tonight, Philadelphia right-handed starter Roy Oswalt was the story. His nine strikeouts were the most he’s ever thrown in a postseason game. San Francisco managed just six baserunners off Oswalt – three hits and three walks in eight innings. It did put two runners on in the ninth against Phillies reliever Ryan Madson, but it was far too late.
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The Giants were without shortstop Juan Uribe on Sunday. Manager Bruce Bochy said Uribe hurt his left wrist sliding into second base during Saturday’s game. It’s being called a bruise, but Uribe couldn’t swing a bat before Game 2. He will be re-evaluated during San Francisco’s 4 p.m. workout on Monday at AT&T Park.
One of the key plays during Sunday’s game was first baseman Aubrey Huff cutting off a throw from Andres Torres in center field as Oswalt scored from second base. The problem? Huff saw the third-base coach put up the stop sign as he ran towards the mound to take the throw. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize Oswalt was going to barrel right through it.
“No question we had him dead,” Bochy said. “He was out by 10, 15 feet. But Aubrey thought he was holding up and that’s why he cut the ball off.”
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has been asked repeatedly during this series about sticking with shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who entered the night mired in a 1-for-15 slump. His faith was rewarded when Rollins drew the intentional walk from Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez that scored a run, reached on an infield single and then hit the three-run double in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in [Rollins]. I stand there and pull for him,” Manuel said. “I know how good he can hit and I also know how much he wants to be up there. I’ll stay right with you, son. I’ll go down with you.”
NLCS Notes
» The series shifts to AT&T Park on Tuesday afternoon when Philadelphia left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels and San Francisco right-hander Matt Cain square off.
» Rollins posted his second four-RBI postseason game. The last time it happened was Game 2 of the NLDS against Colorado in 2007.
» The Giants may want to take care of business at home this week. Philadelphia has won seven of its last eight NLCS home games – the exception, of course, Saturday’s 4-3 loss.
» Sanchez lasted six innings with five hits allowed and three runs – two of them earned. He walked three batters and struck out seven. That’s the most strikeouts by a Giants lefty since Dave Dravecky fanned eight in Game 6 of the 1987 NLCS at St. Louis.
» With just four hits, San Francisco tied its mark for fewest hits in an NLCS game. It’s now happened three times in 23 previous NLCS games.
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